Music Scholarship: Power in the Progress

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music is renowned for training some of the best conductors, vocalists, cellists, violinists and other instrumental performers in the country. Many of these UGA graduates go on to outstanding international careers and we take great pride in their accomplishments. The Hodgson School also trains some of the best music teachers in America and its impact on the future of the arts in the classroom is at least as important as bringing some of the world's most beautiful music to campus. Indeed these are not exclusive of each other and function wonderfully together. But it's important to note that progress in the classroom hinges on scholarship, as this article from Hodgson school alum Josh Boyd illustrates, UGA music scholars continue to uncover methods for helping students to higher levels of musicianship:

"Power in the Progress System" created by H. Dwight Satterwhite, a professor at the University of Georgia is based on the idea that students will exceed expectations when they have an incentive program that provides constant positive reinforcement as well as a clearly charted path to success.

Sounds simple enough. But it takes a great amount of engagement with teaching to get to a point where one can explain something that sounds obvious. The article lays out the steps of the program and importantly how it "revolutionized our band program" at a middle school in Georgia, one venue among thousands where some of our alums do their best work.

* Thanks to the commenter. Article previously referred to another HHSOM Josh Byrd instead of the correct alum, Joshua Boyd. Apologies.